Agent (comics)

The Agent (Rick Mason) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the son of Tinkerer. Created by James Hudnall and John Ridgway, Agent first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, The Agent #1 (December, 1989).

The Agent
The Agent.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceMarvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, The Agent (1989)
Created byJames Hudnall
John Ridgway
In-story information
Alter egoRick Mason
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsS.H.I.E.L.D.
Abilities
  • Skilled martial artist
  • Weapon proficiency

O-T Fagbenle portrayed Mason in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow (2021) and television series Secret Invasion (2023).

Publication history

Rick Mason was created by James Hudnall and John Ridgway and made his debut in Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, The Agent #1 (December, 1989).[1][2]

Fictional character biography

Rick Mason served as a mercenary who specialized in the non-lethal handling of superhumans, having grown up exposed to advanced technology necessary for such tasks as the son of the criminal inventor Phineas Mason, better known as Tinkerer.[3][4][5][6][2]

Mason became a highly trained covert operative due to the experience he gained working alongside individuals like Nick Fury, Dennis Nayland, and Alexi Vazhin.[7][5] He decided to become freelance, adopting the codename "The Agent," and has completed missions for the governments of many nations, including the United States, Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom.[7][4][8]

Mason was once hired to kill an alleged mole code-named "Vitamin" from the Central Intelligence Agency in Berlin.[9] In an attempt to kill him, Mason blew up a hotel, but he was under observation by Michael Rossi and Carol Danvers, who tracked him across the city. Mason escaped using one of his father's devices to become invisible.[10]

His upbringing in New York City brought him into contact with many criminals due to his father's occupation.[11] Ill at ease with wrong-doers, the Agent sought a path in life other than aiding others in perpetrating crimes. Becoming a mercenary the Agent worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. though was later hired by the British government to prevent the super team China Force from overthrowing their rule of Hong Kong. Returning to S.H.I.E.L.D., he was required by Nick Fury to undertake a similar mission in Costa Brava involving American-backed rebels. The Agent discovered that one of his former teachers, Teng Yun-Suan, was responsible for both of these incidents. Yun-Suan met death at the Agent's hands. As a freelance mercenary who specialized in non-lethal metahuman handlings, he assisted Nick Fury involving metahuman mercenaries.[12]

The Agent remained on good terms with his father despite the latter making a living in a field he did not approve of. The Corporation used this to their advantage and kidnapped the Agent to force the Tinkerer to work for them.[13][6][14] Mason encounters Luke Cage and Dakota North and the three defeat the Corporation. However, Mason was apparently killed later on after which his activities as the anonymous Agent were public knowledge.[15][5]

Mason's own son perished during Nitro's explosion in Stamford, Connecticut which heralded the Civil War's beginning.[16][5]

Mason later teamed up with Carol Danvers and the two learned about Ghazi Rashid now as a metahuman. After it's revealed that Rossi was Vitamin and Ms. Marvel gets overloaded with power, Mason almost dies from a bomb and only makes it out in time. He tracked Rossi to Brazil who he killed. Then he spoke with Norman Osborn for his father's prison release, threatening death for Ms. Marvel's apparent death.[17]

Powers and abilities

Agent is an expert at armed combat and hand-to-hand combat.

In other media

Marvel Cinematic Universe
See also: Rick Mason (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Rick Mason appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by O-T Fagbenle.[18]

Video games

Rick Mason appears in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, voiced by Todd Williams.[22] This version was a Roxxon scientist, older brother of Phin Mason, and friend of Miles Morales. While working for Roxxon, Rick helped create the Nuform power source until he and his staff were diagnosed with bone marrow failure. With Phin's help, Rick tried to expose the truth, but was trapped and killed by Roxxon's R&D director Simon Krieger, who subsequently took credit for Rick's work. Rick's death pushed his sister to seek revenge as the Tinkerer, resulting in a violent conflict between the Underground criminal group and Roxxon that Morales works to contain.

References
  1. Meyer, Joshua (2022-04-04). "O-T Fagbenle's Black Widow Character Might Return In Future Projects [Exclusive] - /Film". SlashFilm.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  2. Nolan, Liam (2022-04-05). "Black Widow Star Shares Vague Details About Their MCU Future". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  3. Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, The Agent #1
  4. Raymond, Charles Nicholas (2021-07-31). "Black Widow: Who Is Mason & How Does He Get So Much Stuff?". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  5. Newnum, Paul (2020-11-27). "Rick Mason: Who Is Spider-Man: Miles Morales Character?". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  6. "Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Who Is Rick Mason?". GAMING. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  7. All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1
  8. Schneiderman, Miles (2021-07-09). "Characters In Black Widow That Are More Important Than You Realized - Looper". Looper.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  9. Aberl, Joseph (2020-10-12). "Marvel Studios' 'Black Widow': Who is Rick Mason?". Murphy's Multiverse. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  10. Ms. Marvel Vol 2 #33. Marvel Comics.
  11. The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z. Marvel Comics.
  12. Marvel Graphic Novel #57. Marvel Comics.
  13. Cage #13. Marvel Comics.
  14. Sonnack, Matthew (2021-07-16). "Black Widow's Rick Mason Has a Surprising Connection to a Spider-Man: Homecoming Villain". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  15. Cage #14. Marvel Comics.
  16. Punisher War Journal vol. 2 #16
  17. Ms. Marvel vol. 2 #33-37. Marvel Comics.
  18. N'Duka, Amanda; D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 10, 2019). "Marvel's 'Black Widow' Snares 'The Handmaid's Tale' Actor O-T Fagbenle". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  19. Coggan, Devan (July 20, 2019). "Black Widow hits Comic-Con with first details of Scarlett Johansson film". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  20. Lovett, Jamie (November 15, 2020). "Black Widow Star Tease Natasha's Romance With Mysterious Mason". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  21. Seddon, Dan (July 19, 2023). "Secret Invasion fans react to surprise Black Widow cameo in episode 5". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  22. Insomniac Games (November 12, 2020). Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PlayStation 4). Sony Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Credits.
  • Agent at the Marvel Universe wiki
  • Agent at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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